Month: June 2022
Back in January this year, Venetia Lim tore a tendon in her foot after being tackled during training – an injury that subsequently kept the Singapore international out of action for close to four months.
While it was an unfortunate setback for the up-and-coming midfielder, Venetia refused to wallow in self-pity. Instead, she worked hard on her rehabilitation, and eventually recovered in time to be included in the Lionesses’ SEA Games squad.
Indeed, Venetia featured in all three of the Lionesses’ matches at the Games in Vietnam, starting two of them and coming on as a substitute during the team’s historic victory over Laos.
Now, the 18-year-old has her sights firmly set on helping the Lion City Sailors achieve their goals in the Singapore Women’s Premier League (WPL).
While Venetia was an unused substitute in the Sailors’ 4-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S) last weekend, she is hoping that her efforts in training will lead to her playing some part in the team’s next game against Balestier Khalsa at the Yishun Stadium.
“I’m looking forward to making my debut for the Sailors, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel a little nervous as well,” Venetia candidly admitted.
“Personally, I am very thankful towards coach Sheau Shyan for giving me this opportunity to be part of the Sailors. Having been injured for the past few months, I just hope that I will be able to contribute effectively to the team.”
While the Sailors’ margin of victory over Albirex was ultimately comfortable, they were pushed hard by the Jurong-based outfit, and head coach Yeong Sheau Shyan was keen to emphasise after the game that there was still room for improvement.
It is a sentiment that Venetia agrees with, although she firmly believes that the Sailors will get better with more games under their belt.
“I thought the team took some time to settle down, and Albirex put up a strong challenge,” Venetia mused. “But despite the short amount of time we had to gel with each other prior to the first match, I think we did well to settle down and execute the coach’s game plan.
“Now, I can see that the team is more comfortable playing with each other, and we are all determined to continue striving hard to achieve our goals.”
On a personal level, Venetia hopes her experience with the Sailors in the WPL this season will help her develop further – both on and off the pitch.
“I hope to grow and improve both as a football player and as a person,” she said. “All the seven teams in the WPL will be fighting hard for the win in every game, and will be vying for the championship.
“To be able to play these incredible teams, against some of the best players in Singapore, will definitely provide me with more match experience. It will also help me learn other aspects of the game, and give me exposure to diverse playing styles. These teams will put me to test and develop me through their respective means.”
For now, though, Venetia is simply focused on helping the Sailors get all three points against a potentially tricky Balestier side.
“Balestier is a strong team, and will undoubtedly be hungry for the win. Their aggressiveness and strength in the attacking third could pose problems for us, and I’m sure they’ll put up a good fight,” said Venetia.
“But we will approach the game by playing as a team. We have set the bar pretty high during the first game, so we have to build on that. As a team, we need to be confident, keep our composure, and concentrate on playing according to the coach’s game plan. If we do that, I’m confident it’ll increase our chances of winning the game.”
The Lion City Sailors made the perfect start to their debut Singapore Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign on Sunday evening (5 June), beating Albirex Niigata (S) 4-1 at the Yishun Stadium.
A brace from Singapore international Nur Izzati Rosni, along with strikes from Dorcas Chu and Madison Telmer, were enough for the Sailors to pick up all three points, despite facing stiff resistance from Albirex in the first 45 minutes.
But while Sailors head coach Yeong Sheau Shyan was pleased with the win, she admits that there are still several areas she would like her side to improve on.
“Our chemistry needs to get better, and we need to sort out some of our set-pieces,” elaborated the 44-year-old, who added that the women are gunning for the WPL title this season.
“We also need to work on defending the long ball better, because that’s what we can expect more of in the matches ahead. We have to improve on our defensive transitions as well. So this means that when we lose the ball, we have to get back into our defensive positions quickly.”
Nonetheless, Sheau Shyan praised her charges for putting in a display that was “beyond expectations”, especially given the short runway that they had to prepare for the season.
“Our performance was beyond expectations because we were coming into the game cold, while the rest of the teams played their first game last week,” said Sheau Shyan. “Not only that, we’ve only had our national players back with us for two weeks (after the SEA Games). So all in all, this is a very good start for us.”
One of the players who stood out for the Sailors was Izzati, whose goal scoring heroics at the recent SEA Games helped create history for Singapore.
The 23-year-old scored the all-important opening goal for the Sailors just before half-time, before doubling her tally in the 86th minute to put the icing on the cake for her team.
Reflecting on the game, Izzati said: “Albirex were tough opponents who gave us a real challenge, especially in the first-half. But I think we managed to get back stronger, and were more creative in the second half. That’s where we managed to find the penetrative pass in the final third.
“To win 4-1, and on a personal level, to score two goals, is a really nice feeling. It’s a great start to the season, but we are all aware that there is still room for improvement.
“But I feel we have good chemistry in the team, with quality players in every position. That makes it much easier for us to play the game. We will work even harder to get better, so we can play entertaining, beautiful football for our fans, football that is deserving of the great support we’ve been getting.”
It was just barely a month ago when Nur Izzati Rosni entered her name into the history books with a dramatic winner against Laos to secure the Lionesses’ first win at the SEA Games since 1985.
Izzati’s goal, which came in the 95th minute of the match, was also the first that the Lionesses had scored since the 1995 edition of the Games.
The Lionesses’ impassioned and jubilant celebrations that followed showed just how much the goal, and victory, meant to the team.
And the player at the centre of it all, Izzati, intends to create more of such memories – both for the Lionesses, as well as her club side, the Lion City Sailors.
Credit: Sport Singapore/Dyan Tjhia
The Sailors’ women make their Singapore Women’s Premier League (WPL) debut on Sunday (5 June) against Albirex Niigata (S) at the Yishun Stadium.
“I’m overjoyed that I was able to score the winner, and that I was able to help Singapore to its first SEA Games victory in nearly 37 years,” said Izzati. “I didn’t know it then, but that goal meant that I’m the fourth player to ever score for the Lionesses at the SEA Games, which is a huge honour for me, and makes me really happy.
“This historic achievement has inspired me to keep working hard, and to make runs into good positions so I can score more goals in future matches, be it for the national team or for the Sailors.”
But Izzati’s SEA Games experience was more than just about that historic night. The 23-year-old also gained valuable exposure against regional opponents, and saw first-hand what it takes to play at the international level.
“I’ve learnt a lot about trust and discipline during our SEA Games campaign,” Izzati explained. “It is important for us to adopt and follow our coach’s game plans closely, no matter what they are. More importantly, we have to make certain that the team never gives up, and that we continue to cover for one another until the final whistle.
“These are just some of the lessons that I will take with me as I prepare myself for the upcoming WPL season with the Sailors.”
With the Sailors winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) last year, Izzati is determined to achieve the same level of success in the WPL this season.
“The club’s goal is to be the best in Singapore by winning trophies, and implementing a certain style of play. So it is a true honour to be able to represent the Sailors in the WPL, and it motivates me to work harder and give it my all to bring success to the women’s team,” said Izzati.
The Sailors’ opposition on Sunday, Albirex, lost their opening game 2-1 to Tanjong Pagar last weekend, but Izzati is certain the Jurong-based outfit will not be easy opponents, and urged her team to remain switched on throughout the 90 minutes.
“Albirex have a few seasoned players who are very good defensively,” said Izzati. “But we are confident that we will be able to hold our own against them. All of us are excited for the game, and we can’t wait to play competitive local football again after such a long time.
“But for now, we are just focused on one game at a time, and we will do our best to get the three points against Albirex.”
Tajeli joins Geylang on loan
Lion City Sailors defender Tajeli Salamat has joined Geylang International on loan for the remainder of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
The versatile 28-year-old who can play anywhere across the backline joined the Sailors in the club’s inaugural SPL season, after a successful 2019 that saw him help the now-defunct Warriors FC to a runners-up finish in the Singapore Cup.
Tajeli was part of the Sailors’ Class of 2021 that won the club’s first SPL title, with Kim Do-hoon’s men edging past Albirex Niigata (S) only on the final day of what was an exciting domestic football season.
His performances across 2021 earned him a call-up to Tatsuma Yoshida’s national squad for the year-ending AFF Suzuki Cup campaign that saw the Lions play their way into Singaporean hearts with a blood-and-guts performance in their semi-final loss to Indonesia.
Tajeli has made 36 appearances across three competitions for the Sailors, contributing two goals in the club’s inaugural season.
